1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water: 350 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Coastline
1,288 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Environment--current issues
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
19 00 N, 70 40 W
Geography--note
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
Irrigated land
2,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km
Land use
arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 12% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Location
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm
Natural hazards
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Natural resources
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Terrain
rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,447,435; female 1,393,122) 15-64 years: 61% (male 2,501,206; female 2,426,564) 65 years and over: 4% (male 171,049; female 190,358) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
25.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Infant mortality rate
42.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Spanish
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.07 years male: 67.86 years female: 72.4 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Net migration rate
-4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
8,129,734 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.62% (1999 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 95%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
29 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Capital
Santo Domingo
Constitution
28 November 1966
Country name
conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none
Data code
DR
Executive branch
chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996; runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000) election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president; percent of vote--Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%
Flag description
a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles--the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Government type
republic
Independence
27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
International organization participation
ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding) Political parties and leaders: Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
Legal system
based on French civil codes
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); Chamber of Deputies--last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRD 24, PLD 4, PRSC 2; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
National holiday
Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Suffrage
18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Economy
Agriculture--products
sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Budget
revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867 million (1999 est.)
Currency
1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Debt--external
$3.6 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$239.6 million (1995)
Economy--overview
In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ presented a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy--including the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices--in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though most reforms are stalled in the legislature, the economy grew vigorously in 1997-98, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth, but the privatization of the state electricity company has met numerous delays. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $1.3 billion in damages, largely to agriculture and infrastructure.
Electricity--consumption
6.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
6.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 70.15% hydro: 29.85% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1--15.949 (January 1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995), 13.160 (1994)
Exports
$997 million (1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
Exports--partners
US 45%, EU 19.9%, Canada 3.6%, South Korea 3.3% (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$39.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 19% industry: 25% services: 56% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
7% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.6% (1989)
Imports
$3.6 billion (1998)
Imports--commodities
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports--partners
US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)
Industrial production growth rate
6.3% (1995 est.)
Industries
tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6% (1998 est.)
Labor force
2.3 million to 2.6 million
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)
Population below poverty line
20.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate
16% (1997 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
Radios
NA
Telephone system
domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
190,000 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations
25 (1997)
Televisions
728,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
36 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo
Railways
total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$180 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.1% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 2,156,827 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,355,342 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 82,902 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US